And that’s a Wrap - Rotary Centre for the Arts, TOTA and the UBCO Indigenous Art Intensive showcased outdoor iArt Gallery

After a four-month, two-location showing, the RCA’s summer showcase of Indigenous art in a Mobile Trailer made its final debut this weekend in downtown Kelowna’s “Meet Me On Bernard” activation. The purpose of the Indigenous Artisan Trails Mobile art gallery (iArt)  was to showcase Indigenous artisans from outside the Thompson/Okanagan region and their impact to those in the Kelowna community and visitors to our community. Community and Educational Programming Specialist, Andrew Stauffer, says, “I am glad that this unique and unexpected exhibit generated much discussion around land-based Indigenous art, and I hope the works shown helped people to reconsider their own relationship to the land.”

The Rotary Centre for the Arts together with TOTA (Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association) and UBCO’s Indigenous Art Intensive program present a screening of video works in the mobile iArt gallery outside the RCA.  The digital art exhibit, curated by Tania Willard of UBCO, inspires people to visit the gallery and learn more about Indigenous contemporary art.  

Colleen Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, Rotary Centre for the Arts, comments, “This marked the RCA’s third new outdoor art exhibit added in the past year for socially distanced and easy access to the arts, helping us better appreciate ourselves as a community and enriches us culturally. We were grateful to showcase these works from indigenous artists across Turtle Island and invite the Okanagan community to come in person to experience these important artworks and the stories they tell. We are grateful to TOTA and UNCO for their partnership to bring this exbibit to life.”

Tania Willard, Assistant Professor, Visual Arts, Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, UBCO adds, “Three Indigenous artist’s video works were screened inside a unique mobile gallery. The iArt Gallery presents works by noted artists Maureen Gruben (Inuvialuk), Christine Howard Sandoval (Obispeño Chumash and Hispanic) and Krista Belle Stewart (Syilx).”

Media Release- Rotary Centre for the Arts features Indigenous Youth and Young Adults Art Exhibition Shi kéé